Driver wins battle, but fight goes on


A BEARSTED pensioner who was ticketed for driving through Chatham bus station has taken on the might of Medway Coun- cil – and won. But the council, still smarting


from the legal ruling, is now threatening to take the case to judicial review in the High Court, amove which would cost its taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds. Peter Willson (75), a leading


light with the Bearsted Wood- land Trust, was one of thou- sands of people fined for driving through the new bus station, which now spreadea- gles a former through route. The bus station has been the subject of huge controversy since it was moved from the nearby Pentagon Centre, with Medway Council handing out about 90 traffic penalties each day. MrWillson, who was trying to get to the Historic Dockyard –


on the route he had always used, realised too late that he and his wife were in themiddle of the bus station. Mr Willson said: “The signs


were clearly inadequate, which is reinforced by the fact so many people are falling foul of the same problem.” Mr Willson received his £60 penalty charge in May, and started his long battle to get it overturned. A traffic penalty tribunal in September found in his favour – although Medway Council then went on to apply for a review of the adjudicator’s decision. However, a second adjudica-


tor, Christopher Nicholls, re- jected the application for review, saying “it would not be in the interests of justice for the decision to be reviewed” and he supported the original decision that MrWillson did not have to pay the penalty charge.


Battle to help cancer dad Continued from page one


businesses have been donating to the auction, which closes on December 20, and anyone can donate or bid. A family fun day has been held at Regan’s Bar, Gravesend, near where the family used to live, to fur- ther swell the fund. Toni said: “If the chemo gets to a point where it doesn’t work any more, we could be looking at flying Marcus to Houston – so we will need a lot of money in a short space of time.” Meanwhile, in the UK, if the chemotherapy proves successful, Marcus could be facing follow-up treat- ment of radiotherapy and, potentially, a bone mar- row transplant that would be carried out at King’s College Hospital, London. Toni said: “Marcus has been really ill, but fought


back time and time again.” The couple, who have been together 15 years, got married last month. Marcus and Toni had planned to marry at the Archbishop’s Palace in July, 2013, but brought the wedding forward and were married by special licence in an oncology ward at Maidstone Hospital on September 11, with family and friends. Toni said: “We had just 24 hours to organise every-


thing, but the staff were brilliant. I didn’t want to be married by a bedside, so we had a whole ward to our- selves and the registrar came in to the hospital. “We have kept the date at the Archbishop’s Palace


and, if all goes well, we will use it to have a blessing next year.”


Driver PeterWillson fights on MrWillson produced a series


of photographs and statistics in support of his appeal, which re- vealed that the average number of penalty notices issued per week in Globe Lane, where he was snapped by an enforcement camera, over a 10-week period from April to June was 539. Adjudicator John Parker ruled


that not only was signage inad- equate, but Medway Council had failed in exercising its dis- cretion in considering whether to reduce or waive the fine. However, a spokesman for Medway Council said: “We are considering legally challenging the tribunal’s decision, as there are clear inconsistencies with it. “It is dangerous to drive through the bus station, which is for buses and taxis only. Driv- ers not only face a fine, but they run the risk of causing injury to tens of thousands of passengers, including schoolchildren, who use it every week.” In a similar case in Hemel Hempstead, where signage was declared inadequate, Hertford- shire County Council has had to repay £1.3m collected in fines. Campaigners in Medway say


the council should now repay the £500,000 it has already col- lected in fines.


Fayre boost to charities


ADOZEN Bearsted charities received a welcome cash boost from funds raised at the annual village fayre. Representatives from all the organ- isations were presented with their cheques by the deputy Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Clive English, at a presentation evening at Madginford Hall. The largest cheque went to the


fayre’s charity of the year, St Mary’s Church, Thurnham, which received £2,500 towards essential refurbish- ment.


Cheques for £210were presented to


the following local groups and organ- isations: Bearsted Cricket Club, for refur- bishment of the interior of the pavil- ion and new kit; Bearsted Korf Ball Club, for the development of this suc- cessful new club and for new kit; Madginford Seniors, for the meal and entertainment at the annual variety evening; St Peter’s Busy Bees Pre- School, for an extension to the imagi- native play area, including a wooden cooker and utensils; Madginford Park Estate FC, to assist with the twinning


visit from the USA; Roseacre Raiders FC, for a new shed; Girl Guides (Bearsted District), towards a new cooker after the refurbishment of the HQ following the recent flood; Madg- inford Hall, for replacement of the PA system; Bearsted and Thurnham WI Hall, for provision of baby changing facilities and the introduction of a baby clinic; King George VMemorial Hall, donation towards replacement fire doors; Bearsted Methodist Church, a donation towards replace- ment double glazing and storage heaters. The fayre committee also agreed to


give £210 to a local family with an autistic son, who need new fencing at their home. Fayre president Pat Marshall said:


“The Bearsted fayre raised in excess of £5,000 and it is wonderful to be able to see the money go back into the community to help local organisa- tions and groups which do so much for the residents.” The evening was attended by the Bearsted fayre princess, Maddy Hill (8), and her deputyGabrielle Ellis (9).


Advice bureau hoping for ‘generous benefactor’ Continued from page one


balance its books. Chief execu- tive Bonny Malhotra has pledged to leave no stone unturned in a bid to plug the funding gap – and vowed that the service will go on.


However, he is hopeful that a


local entrepreneur, philanthro- pist or benefactor will realise the value of the service and come forward to help in the interim. He said: “The irony is that the Government depends heavily on the voluntary sector. They know we will shout and scream, but we will still provide the service as that is whatwe signed up for. When someone knocks on your


6 East


door asking for help, you can’t close it.” As with most charities, pleas


for volunteers to help generally result in more people seeking that help, but Mr Malhotra said: “That’s fine. We want people to come to us with their problems. “In times of plenty, we don’t


have a problem, but at the mo- ment, too many people are chas- ing too little cash. “Unfortunately, Maidstone is perceived as quite well off.Apart from four deprived areas – Park Wood, Shepway,Tovil and Man- gravet – the borough is relatively affluent. “People like Lloyds TSB, who


weapproached for funding, were looking to help the top 20 de- prived areas, and we’re not one of them.” When Mr Malhotra joined Maidstone CAB 14 years ago, it was 100% funded by the bor- ough council – to the tune of £145,000. Now, although the council has


put in £185,000 this year, as the service has grown that represents just 30% of the total funding. Mr Malhotra said: “We have


been successful at raising funds and we are fortunate in having been able to grow and are grate- ful to the council for their con- tinued support. But we can’t


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


expect them to give us more at a timewhen everyone is having to settle for less.” MaidstoneCABhad just seven salaried employees when Mr Malhotra joined in 1998. Today, it has 28. He said: “We ask our volun-


teers to give at least a day a week, but they cannotmanagewithout professional support and people to provide administrative and clerical back up. “The staff here have years of experience and, as our success rate shows, are crucial in provid- ing specialist advice with regard to debt, housing, employment andwelfare benefits issues.”


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